News Archive - 21 March 2012

IRI President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Omani leader Sultan Qaboos in a telephone conversation late on Wednesday reviewed regional developments. Sultan Qaboos congratulated President Ahmadinejad, the Iranian nation and government on the auspicious Nowruz marking the beginning of the new Iranian year. President Ahmadinejad expressed hope that the current regional developments...

[Video] Perspolis Tehran – Al Shabab Perspolis Tehran 6 – 1 Al Shabab (ACL, Group D) 08′ [1-0] Eamon Zayed 48′ [2-0] Eamon Zayed 54′ [3-0] Eamon Zayed 56′ [3-1] Jociel Ferreira da Silva (P.K.) 62′ [4-1] Gholamreza Rezaei 63′ [5-1] Ali Karimi (P.K.) 87′...

US police clashed with anti-capitalism demonstrators in New York City, arresting at least six protesters. According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), the protesters were taken into custody after officers ordered a crowd of 99-percenters to leave Union Square Park in the lower Manhattan in an unusual move to...

Iran’s popular Persepolis football team in its second game in Asian Clubs Championship crushed UAE’s Al-Shebab in a goal festival 6-1, on Wednesday at the Football Stadium of Tehran’s Azadi Sports Complex’. According to the IRNA Sports Desk, in the home game in the presence of over 80 thousand enthusiastic...

IRI Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has deplored scores of deaths in terrorist attacks against innocent people and pilgrims in Iraq late Tuesday. Mehmanparast expressed deepest sympathies to the families of victims of the brutal terrorist attacks in Iraq. "Such terrorist acts are continuation of animosities aimed at hindering efforts...

The Argentinean congress is set to issue a statement this week in order to ratify Argentina's sovereignty over the disputed Malvinas Islands, which will be delivered to world parliaments, according to Press TV. The move comes ahead of the 30th anniversary of the war Argentina and Britain fought over Las...

Turkey’s Prime Minister Office declared that Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official visit to Tehran next week. The Office said in a statement that the prime minister will pay an official 2-day visit to Iran on March 28 and 29, 2012. Erdogan is scheduled to meet with Iranian senior...

IRI's Permanent Representative to the UN Mohammad Khazaee said on Wednesday that Iranians have always been flag-bearer of peace and friendship in the international community. Khazaee said in the meantime that Iran’s foreign policy is drawn up on such principle. The Iranian envoy made the remarks in a ceremony marking...

>* Trade surplus 32.9 bln yen vs 120 bln yen deficit forecast* Strong U.S.-bound exports drive 1st trade surplus in 5 mths* Manufacturers turn optimistic in March - Reuters Tankan* Manufacturer sentiment index +2 in March, non-manuf +5By Rie Ishiguro and Tetsushi KajimotoTOKYO, March 22 (Reuters) -...

>* Surprise drawdown in U.S. crude stocks - EIA* Coming up: Euro zone March flash PMI; 0858 GMT (Adds South Korea comments, updates prices)By Francis KanSINGAPORE, March 22 (Reuters) - Brent crude dropped below $124 a barrel on Thursday, after weak Chinese manufacturing data sparked concerns that energy demand...

>March 21 (Reuters) - Below is a list of the 12 countries that buy Iranian oil and could be subject to U.S. sanctions unless they significantly cut purchases, a U.S. State Department official said on Wednesday.The department released the number of countries - but not their names...

>Facing the prospect of U.S. sanctions if South Korea fails to significantly reduce imports from Iran, Seoul will soon hold another round of talks with Washington to discuss reductions in South Korea's hefty imports of Iranian oil. (Reporting by Shinhyung Lee; Writing by Meeyoung Cho; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)...

As the drumbeats for war on Iran increase, we who espouse effective, security-enhancing, non-military conflict resolution options must not be similarly ignored. It is time that our leaders and our media also put these options on the table.

>* France says reports confirm Iranian arms supplies to Syria* U.N. sanctions on Iran nuclear program ban weapons exportsBy Michelle NicholsUNITED NATIONS, March 21 (Reuters) - The United States and Britain accused Iran at the United Nations on Wednesday of shipping weapons to Syria that are being used by...

A senior New York Police Department official says law enforcement has interviewed at least 13 people since 2005 with ties to Iran's government who were seen taking pictures of New York City landmarks. Police consider the activity to be pre-operational surveillance.

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) warned Wednesday that there are hundreds — maybe even thousands — of Hezbollah agents inside of the United States capable of launching a terror attack if U.S.-Iran tensions continue to escalate.

>The United States has exempted Japan and 10 EU nations from financial sanctions because they have significantly cut purchases of Iranian oil, but Iran's top customers China and India remain at risk.The decision means banks in the 11 countries have been given a six-month reprieve from the threat of...

>SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea said on Wednesday world leaders visiting Seoul for a nuclear summit next week will discuss North Korea and Iran's "illegitimate" atomic activities, angering the North that said such talk would be a "declaration of war". Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan told Reuters that while nuclear weapons...

>FUNDAMENTALS* On the New York Mercantile Exchange, May crude, the new front month, had lost 26 cents a barrel to $107.01 as of 0012 GMT after settling up 1.13 percent at $107.27 a barrel.* In London, ICE May Brent crude edged down 6 cents to $124.

>* Saudi assurance to meet supply shortfall to cap gains* ANZ forecasts Brent to rise to average of $119/bbl in 2012* Coming up: U.S. EIA weekly petroleum status report; 1430 GMT (Adds China crude stocks, updates prices)By Francis KanSINGAPORE, March 21 (Reuters) - Brent crude edged towards $125 a...

>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama, seeking to increase pressure on North Korea to abandon its atomic weapons, will visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on South Korea's tense border on Sunday before a nuclear security summit in Seoul. Obama's visit to the border will be a strong show of support...

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Deep in Republican oil country, President Barack Obama is fending off criticism of his energy policies, pointing to plans to fast-track an oil pipeline that emerged after he delayed the larger Keystone XL project earlier this year.

(Bilal Hussein | The Associated Press) Syrian Kurds citizens who live in Lebanon and opposed to Syrian President Bashar Assad, hold up a Kurdish flag, right, and a Syrian revolution flag, left, chant slogans against the Syrian regime as they celebrate the Nowruz day in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, March 21,...

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said North Korea's plan to launch a long-range rocket next month threatens regional peace. Ban said the plan is undermining a "positive atmosphere" established recently by the United States and North Korea. Pyongyang said it will...

Foreign Minister Bob Carr says international sanctions against Iran are working.

A dispute between Egypt and Gaza's Hamas government has produced the worst energy crisis here in years: Gazans are enduring 18-hour-a-day blackouts, fuel is running low for hospital backup generators, raw sewage pours...

Oil prices fell to below $107 a barrel Thursday in Asia amid investor concerns that China's economy and crude demand may grow less than expected this year.

Japanese financial institutions will not be subject to US sanctions for conducting deals with Iran's central bank. -Yomiuri Shimbun/ANN

In Haiti, actor Sean Penn brushed aside mockery in the media for his penchant for taking up causes. Someone, he said, had to do something after the devastating earthquake. ...

The Cambodian Rugby Federation has succeeded in its bid to host the three-team Division 5 championship of the 2012 HSBC Asian 5 Nations from June 26-30.

For nearly a decade, the United States has invested money, sweat, blood and tears all in the name of a free and democratic Iraq. Before the war, Iraqis suffered under the oppressive dictatorship of Sa

BOULDER CITY, Nev. -- Wooing a nation of increasingly angry motorists, President Barack Obama and his Republican rivals are all plunging into gas-pump politics, seeking the upper hand as energy becomes a driving issue in the election campaign. The pr ...

>Britain and the United States are considering a release of oil from reserves to prevent oil prices choking economic growth. High gasoline prices in top oil importer the United States are hurting consumers and a political issue for President Barack Obama during an election year.Not all of the IEA's...

The facts: Tensions between Iran and Israel mount as Iran continues enrichment of uranium. Fear of their use of this substance for a weapon is growing, and the U.S . will eventually have to make a decision.

Like the warnings of the notorious Greg Smith about Goldman, Fed chief Ben Bernanke’s concerns about Europe will go unheeded, until it’s too late

Here's an interesting bit of news: According to information attributed to WikiLeaks and published in Britain's Guardian newspaper, Syrian President Bashar Assad wrote to his wife that he is not serious about his promised democratic reforms, has consulted with Iran about ways to put down the protests and prefers the...

An Indian fisherman has gone missing in the rough seas off Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE and a intensive search operation has been launched to find him.Christudas Augustine, from Kerala, was am...

Here's an interesting bit of news: According to information attributed to WikiLeaks and published in Britain's Guardian newspaper, Syrian President Bashar Assad wrote to his wife that he is not serious about his promised democratic reforms, has consulted with Iran about ways to put down the protests and prefers the...

Kuwait says Iran vows not to shut Strait of Hormuz Kuwait's emir, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, was quoted by the official news agency Tuesday as saying Kuwait and other Arab Gulf countries contacted officials in Iran to ensure the vital waterway is not closed. The state news agency,...

The Bank of England is keeping its fingers crossed that inflation will be back to target in the second half of the year - but things rarely go to plan in the British economy Every three months since the 2010 general election Sir Mervyn King has penned a missive to...

The raging conflict in Syria and Iranâs nuclear programme dispute have been the worldâs headlines for some time. One side of both of these two issues has been dominated by âWestern powersâ wit .....

Did someone say war? A Tel Aviv exhibit is meant to dispel fear, but its Borat-type gimmicks are more irritating than insightful.

UNITED NATIONS, March 21 -- China on Wednesday called on all parties concerned to adopt constructive measures and start sustainable dialogue on the Iranian nuclear issue as soon as possible.

The price of a barrel of oil, now around $107, peaked at $145.30 in 2008. So why does a liter of 95-octane, self-service gasoline, which cost NIS 6.23 then, now cost NIS 7.84 (or NIS 7.74 after the cabinet cut the excise tax by 10 agorot?

20 of Louisiana's 46 delegates are up for grabs in the state's presidential primary on Saturday

>* Ten-year JGB futures were nearly flat, inching up 0.02 point to 141.57, while the yield on the latest 10-year JGB was flat at 1.020 percent, after falling to 1.005 percent in morning trading.The benchmark rose to a three-month high of 1.060 percent last...

By: Jared Buker COLUMNIST Roughly three weeks ago, Twitter users were bombarded with tweets and hash tags regarding Ugandan guerilla group leader Joseph

From Coast Guard rescue helicopter pilot to apocalyptic science-fiction adventure writer...

OPENING THIS WEEK The Hunger Games: In the post-apocalyptic ruins of North America, a teenage girl competes in a nationally televised battle to the death against 23 of her peers.

Normal 0 false false falseEN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.

The first round of an open exchange about influential and controversial coverage from the Middle East

It's not making headlines, but this year's unusually mild weather and low home-heating costs substantially offset the pinch from fast-rising gasoline prices and underpinned the revival of consumer spending. The windfall from declining heating costs, which saved typical families hundreds of dollars this winter, is one reason economists are not ...

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Next week is your chance to meet the serial killers. This is because they’re coming to Wellington for MulticoreWorld on March 27th and 28th, and so you can meet them there.

China and India continue to buy Iranian oil despite the country's increasing ostracisation but they will have to stop by June or face sanctions themselves.

BY PETER J. G. TABINGO -- -- VICE President Jejomar C. Binay will leave Saturday for South Korea to represent President Aquino in the 2nd Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul. The summit is expected to gather around 50 heads of state, including United States President Barack Obama, who initiated the...

BY JENNIE L. ILUSTRE-- -- Former Manila Congressman Benny M. Abante today asked Congress to reduce the existing rate of the reformed value added tax (VAT) and heed the growing public clamor for immediate...

In 1997, Bill Clinton signed an executive order creating an electronic embargo against Iran. It's still in effect today -- and causing headaches and hassles for Internet companies.

Half of every $800 spent on an iPad is pure profit - and Apple is drowning in it.

At some point before dawn, the vandals struck with brutal efficiency, smashing the windows at one of Bahrain's oldest Shiite mosques. Then the attackers walked over the broken shards to ransack offices and prayer areas — making sure to pull down some framed parchments with Quranic verses.

Iran: UN Sanctions Committee Presents Recent Cases Of Reported ‘Violations’ New York, Mar 21 2012 7:10PM The head of the Security Council committee monitoring the arms embargo imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme today said new cases of sanctions violation have been brought to its attention during the past...

Veteran Baltimore journalist's last day at NPR station was Friday Sunni Khalid, managing news editor at WYPR-FM, has been dropped by the public radio station after more than nine years on the job there.

Re: “What drove massacre divides Americans,” March 19 news story. “What drove massacre divides Americans” indeed. The debate is as inevitable as it is necessary. Let us not get lost, however, in nuance and semantics. The fact is that a trained, armed U.S. combat veteran systematically yet indiscriminately assassinated...

Tommy Hilfiger agrees to safer factories after ABC News investigation.

Those of you who have a few dollars tucked under your mattresses for a rainy (windy?) day, you might want a heads-up. It’s a fact that our dollar has lost just about 33 percent of its purchasing power in the past 12 years.

Shipping titan John Fredriksen's $11 billion fortune has soared while the tanker industry has been tanking. His secret offers a lesson for every industry.

Investors Should Avoid Oil and Alternatives - Dr. Marc Faber Talks Energy

BOULDER CITY, Nev. (AP) - Wooing a nation of increasingly angry motorists, President Barack Obama and his Republican rivals are all plunging into gas-pump politics, seeking the upper hand as energy becomes a driving issue in the election campaign.

Washington (dpa) - US President Barack Obama told French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday that "the American people stand shoulder to shoulder with our French allies and friends in this trying time" after a deadly shooting spree in southern France.Obama telephoned with Sarkozy from Air Force One while flying...

The Energy Report - Shock and Awesome!

Good Omens Coffeehouse presents roots-folk from Alberta by Ky Babyn on Friday, March 23. Doors open at 5 p.m., show starts at 6:30 p.m. Reservations recommended. 13616 Kelly Avenue.

Amid new tension with North Korea over a planned rocket launch, President Barack Obama plans to visit the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea at the start of an international trip next week, the White House said Tuesday.

Google’s Lat Long Blog announced imagery updates a plenty today that touch on nearly every part of the globe. Seriously, if you live on Earth, you probably live somewhere that is included in the new imagery in Google Earth and …

The U.S. lodging industry, benefitting from two years of sporadic recovery, should continue to enjoy gains in occupancy and pricing power through 2014, with rising profits luring greater levels of investment, according to a series of hospitality reports and outlooks released over the last few days. PKF Hospitality Research,...

Perhaps April Fool’s Day would be the perfect time for former Manitoba First Nations chief Terry Nelson to sit down with kindred spirit, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to talk about the plight of aboriginals in Canada.

GENEVA (AP) - Serious crimes committed by former rebels in Libya risk going unpunished because members of the U.N.'s top human rights body show little appetite to press the new government to investigate abuse committed since the fall of the Gadhafi regime, rights groups warned Wednesday.

Actor has child endangerment charges dropped

Syrian first lady Asma al-Assad's infamous luxury shopping sprees may be coming to an end. European foreign ministers due to meet Friday in Brussels are expected to slap new sanctions on the dictator's wife. The sanctions, if agreed, would mean the British-born Asma al-Assad "will no longer be able to...

Is now the time to own treasuries? Jim Cramer said no. With interest rates on treasuries so low, Jim Cramer says it is better to invest elsewhere. "The ownership of Treasuries is punitive. It really is burning a hole in your pocket at this point," Jim Cramer said. ... Click to...

Wooing a nation of increasingly angry motorists, President Barack Obama and his Republican rivals are all plunging into gas-pump politics, seeking the upper hand as energy becomes a driving issue in the election campaign.

Even without the looming threat of civil war in Syria, flirting with a Middle Eastern ruler is dangerous business.

India on Wednesday said Iran should fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency with a view to restoring confidence of the international community that its nuclear programme is peaceful in nature.

If gas prices are still close to $4 per gallon when Election Day rolls around, President Obama will face tough political odds. But Obama--or his successor--could end up with a far worse problem than that ...

BEIRUT—The "extremely dangerous" conflict in Syria could have global repercussions, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday, as fresh violence erupted and an al-Qaida-inspired group claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings in Damascus.

KSA wants Bahrain's government and opposition to resolve a political crisis that it fears could worsen because of the sectarian fallout of fighting in Syria and destabilise its Eastern Province.

It’s time for us to act for Syria. It’s been one year since the start of the Syrian revolution, and the organized Jewish community is still sitting on its collective thumbs, acting as if the turmoil is not its issue, and in any case, we can do nothing.

The unpredictable opening to the AFC Champions League continued with Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande and last year’s finalists Jeonbuk Motors falling to stunning defeats, while Thai outsiders Buriram United continue to defy the odds.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the Iranian nation will respond in kind to any possible attack on its soil by the US or Israel.

Crude Oil is Going to $500 a Barrel (Part 2)

Rep. Frederica Wilson, (D-Fla.) took to the House floor on Wednesday to call for justice for Trayvon Martin. The teen was killed 25 days ago. The shooter, George Zimmerman has not been charged or arrested.

The US plan to boost its presence in Asia could be less about expanding security and more about setting new priorities. This two-part series analyzes the implications of the new focus on a rising China both for US strategy and its relations with European partners.

An International Man lives and does business wherever he finds conditions most advantageous, regardless of arbitrary borders. He's diversified globally, with passports from multiple countries, assets in several jurisdictions and his residence in yet another.